Display device with a second electrode including a first conductive layer in an emission area and a non-emission area a second conductive layer in the non-emission area

ABSTRACT

A display device in which pixels, each including an emission area, are arranged in a form of a matrix, the display device including: a first electrode formed from the emission area of the pixels to a non-emission area on a periphery of the emission area; a second electrode formed so as to be common to the pixels; and a light emitting material layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein film thickness in the non-emission area of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than film thickness in the emission area.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-004278 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 12,2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an active matrix type display deviceincluding an organic EL (Electroluminescence) light emitting element orthe like.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an image display device, for example, a liquid crystal display or thelike, a large number of pixels are arranged in the form of a matrix, andlight intensity is controlled for each pixel according to information onan image to be displayed, whereby the image is displayed.

While the same is true for an organic EL display or the like, theorganic EL display is a so-called emissive display having a lightemitting element in each pixel circuit, and it has advantages ofproviding a higher image viewability, eliminating a need for abacklight, and a having higher response speed, for example, as comparedwith the liquid crystal display.

In addition, the organic EL display differs greatly from the liquidcrystal display or the like in that the luminance of each light emittingelement is controlled by the value of a current flowing through thelight emitting element, and thereby color gradation is obtained, thatis, in that the light emitting element is of a current-controlled type.

As in the liquid crystal display, there are a simple matrix system andan active matrix system as possible driving systems of the organic ELdisplay. The former has a simple structure, but presents problemsincluding, for example, difficulty in realizing a large high-definitiondisplay. Therefore, the active matrix system, which controls a currentflowing through a light emitting element within each pixel circuit by anactive element, or typically a TFT (Thin Film Transistor), providedwithin the pixel circuit, has been actively developed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ordinary organicEL display device.

As shown in FIG. 1, this display device 1 includes: a pixel array unit 2having pixel circuits (PXLC) 2 a arranged in the form of a m×n matrix; ahorizontal selector (HSEL) 3; a write scanner (WSCN) 4; signal lines(data lines) SGL1 to SGLn selected by the horizontal selector 3 andsupplied with a data signal corresponding to luminance information; andscanning lines WSL1 to WSLm selected and driven by the write scanner 4.

Incidentally, the horizontal selector 3 and the write scanner 4 may beformed on polycrystalline silicon, or by a MOSIC or the like on theperiphery of the pixels.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a configuration of apixel circuit 2 a in FIG. 1 (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,365 (PatentDocument 1) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-234683 (PatentDocument 2)).

The pixel circuit of FIG. 2 has the simplest circuit configuration amonga large number of circuits that have been proposed, and it is a circuitof a so-called two-transistor driving system.

The pixel circuit 2 a of FIG. 2 includes a p-channel thin film fieldeffect transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT) 11 and a TFT 12, acapacitor C11, and an organic EL light emitting element (OLED) 13 as alight emitting element. In FIG. 2, SGL denotes a signal line, and WSLdenotes a scanning line.

The organic EL light emitting element has a current rectifying propertyin many cases, and therefore may be referred to as an OLED (OrganicLight Emitting Diode). Although the symbol of a diode is used for alight emitting element in FIG. 2 and other figures, the currentrectifying property is not necessarily required of an OLED in thefollowing description.

In FIG. 2, the source of the TFT 11 is connected to a power supplypotential VCC. The cathode of the light emitting element 13 is connectedto a ground potential GND. The operation of the pixel circuit 2 a ofFIG. 2 is as follows.

Step ST1:

When the scanning line WSL is set in a selected state (a low level inthis case), and a writing potential Vdata is applied to the signal lineSGL, the TFT 12 conducts to charge or discharge the capacitor C11, andthe gate potential of the TFT 11 becomes the writing potential Vdata.

Step ST2:

When the scanning line WSL is set to a non-selected state (a high levelin this case), the signal line SGL and the TFT 11 are electricallydisconnected from each other. However, the gate potential of the TFT 11is maintained stably by the capacitor C11.

Step ST3:

A current flowing through the TFT 11 and the light emitting element 13has a value corresponding to the gate-to-source voltage Vgs of the TFT11, and the light emitting element 13 continues emitting light at aluminance corresponding to the current value.

An operation of selecting the scanning line WSL and transmitting theluminance information supplied to the data line to the inside of thepixel as in the above-described step ST1 hereinafter will be referred toas “writing”.

As described above, once the writing potential Vdata is written in thepixel circuit 2 a of FIG. 2, the light emitting element 13 continuesemitting light at a constant luminance until the writing potential Vdatais next rewritten.

As described above, in the pixel circuit 2 a, the value of the currentflowing through the EL light emitting element 13 is controlled bychanging the voltage applied to the gate of the TFT 11 as a driving(drive) transistor.

At this time, the source of the p-channel drive transistor is connectedto the power supply potential VCC, and the TFT 11 operates in asaturation region at all times. The TFT 11 is therefore aconstant-current source having a value expressed by the followingEquation 1.Ids=½·μ(W/L)Cox(Vgs−Vth|)²  (Equation 1)where μ denotes carrier mobility, Cox denotes gate capacitance per unitarea, W denotes gate width, L denotes gate length, Vgs denotes thegate-to-source voltage of the TFT 11, and Vth denotes the thresholdvalue of the TFT 11.

Each light emitting element in a simple matrix type image display deviceemits light only at a moment when the light emitting element isselected. On the other hand, the light emitting element in the activematrix system continues emitting light even after writing is ended, asdescribed above. The active matrix system is therefore advantageous,especially in a large high-definition display, in that the peakluminance and the peak current of the light emitting element can bedecreased as compared with the simple matrix system, for example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a secular change in the current-voltage(I-V) characteristic of the organic EL light emitting element. In FIG.3, a curve represented by a solid line indicates a characteristic at atime of an initial state, and a curve represented by a broken lineindicates a characteristic after a secular change.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 3, the I-V characteristic of the organic ELlight emitting element is degraded with the passage of time.

However, because the two-transistor driving of FIG. 2 isconstant-current driving, a constant current continues flowing throughthe organic EL light emitting element as described above, and the lightemission luminance of the organic EL light emitting element is notdegraded with time even when the I-V characteristic of the organic ELlight emitting element is degraded.

The pixel circuit 2 a of FIG. 2 is formed with p-channel TFTs. When thepixel circuit 2 a of FIG. 2 can be formed with n-channel TFTs, anexisting amorphous silicon (a-Si) process can be used in TFTfabrication. Thereby, the cost of a TFT substrate can be reduced.

Next, a description will be made of a basic pixel circuit in which thetransistors are replaced with n-channel TFTs.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a pixel circuit in which thep-channel TFTs in the circuit of FIG. 2 are replaced with n-channelTFTs.

The pixel circuit 2 b of FIG. 4 includes n-channel TFTs 21 and 22, acapacitor C21, and an organic EL light emitting element (OLED) 23 as alight emitting element. In FIG. 4, SGL denotes a data line, and WSLdenotes a scanning line.

In this pixel circuit 2 b, the drain side of the TFT 21 as drivetransistor is connected to a power supply potential VCC, and the sourceof the TFT 21 is connected to the anode of the EL light emitting element23, whereby a source follower circuit is formed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operating point of the TFT 21 as a drivetransistor and the EL light emitting element 23 in an initial state. InFIG. 5, an axis of abscissas indicates the drain-to-source voltage Vdsof the TFT 21, and an axis of ordinates indicates the drain-to-sourcecurrent Ids of the TFT 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, source voltage is determined by the operating pointof the TFT 21 as a drive transistor and the EL light emitting element23, and the voltage has a different value depending on the gate voltage.

Because the TFT 21 is driven in a saturation region, the TFT 21 passesthe current Ids having the current value of the equation shown as theabove Equation 1 relating to the gate-to-source voltage Vgscorresponding to the source voltage at the operating point.

The active matrix type organic EL display of the constitution asdescribed above has a laminated structure of a TFT circuit for drivingthe EL light emitting element and the EL light emitting element as alight emitting layer. Active matrix type organic EL displays of a topemission structure and a bottom emission structure are generally known.

For example, a passive matrix type organic EL element of a top emissionstructure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-203196(Patent Document 3).

In the case of an ordinary bottom emission structure, a light emissionneeds to be extracted from a TFT substrate side, and therefore a TFTstructure may impose a limitation of EL light emission area=apertureratio.

In the case of a top emission structure, on the other hand, a lightemission needs to be extracted from a counter substrate side. Therefore,the top emission structure is not affected by the TFT structure, so thatthe EL light emission area=aperture ratio can be increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the bottom emission structure, light is extracted on a TFT substrateside. It is thus possible to achieve an increase in thickness, that is,a decrease in resistance of an upper electrode (generally a cathode). Inaddition, because a low-resistance material such as aluminum (Al) or thelike can be used, a voltage drop caused by the resistance of the upperelectrode relatively does not present a problem.

In the top emission structure, on the other hand, light is extracted ona counter substrate side. A relatively high transmittance in a visiblelight region is required of an upper electrode (generally a cathode). Itis therefore difficult to achieve an increase in thickness, that is, adecrease in resistance of the upper electrode, and use a low-resistancematerial (=a material having a low transmittance) such as aluminum (Al)or the like.

Hence, in the top emission structure, a voltage drop caused by theresistance of the upper electrode presents a serious problem.

Because of this voltage drop, when a panel is increased in size, thevoltage of the upper electrode in a panel plane varies, thus causing adifference in in-plane luminance of the panel.

That is, the larger the size of the panel and the higher the definitionof the panel, the greater the effects of these problems.

It is desirable to suppress a voltage drop in an electrode part of alight emitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference inin-plane luminance of the panel, and thus obtain a picture of highpicture quality.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a display device in which pixels, each including an emissionarea, are arranged in the form of a matrix, the display deviceincluding: a first electrode formed from the emission area of the pixelsto a non-emission area on a periphery of the emission area; a secondelectrode formed so as to be common to the pixels; and a light emittingmaterial layer formed between the first electrode and the secondelectrode; wherein the film thickness in the non-emission area of atleast one of the first electrode and the second electrode is larger thanfilm thickness in the emission area.

Preferably, a light emitting part is disposed on a side of a surface inwhich the second electrode is formed, the second electrode has alaminated structure of a first conductive layer and a second conductivelayer in the non-emission area, the first conductive layer has a highertransmittance in a visible light region than the second conductivelayer, and the first conductive layer is formed so as to be common tothe pixels over an entire area including the emission area and thenon-emission area.

Preferably, the second conductive layer has a lower sheet resistancethan the first conductive layer.

Preferably, of the first conductive layer and the second conductivelayer laminated in the non-emission area, the second conductive layer isformed with a larger film thickness than the first conductive layer, andat least the second conductive layer has a light guiding function forguiding light emitted from the light emitting part in a directionorthogonal to the direction of lamination of the layers.

Preferably, a light emitting part is disposed on a side of a surface inwhich the first electrode is formed, the first electrode has a laminatedstructure of a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer inthe non-emission area, the first conductive layer has a highertransmittance in a visible light region than the second conductivelayer, and the first conductive layer is formed in each pixel includingthe emission area and the non-emission area.

Preferably, the second conductive layer has a lower sheet resistancethan the first conductive layer.

Preferably, the display device is of a top emission type.

Preferably, the display device is of a bottom emission type.

Preferably, each of the pixels includes at least a light emittingelement, a driving transistor, and a switching transistor, and thedriving transistor and the light emitting element are connected inseries with each other between a power supply line and a referencepotential.

According to the present invention, for example, the second electrodehas the two-layer structure of the first conductive layer and the secondconductive layer, the first conductive layer is formed over the entiredisplay area, and the second conductive layer is formed in thenon-emission area of the display area, the non-emission area not beingthe light emitting part. The resistance of the second electrode isthereby reduced.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a voltagedrop in the electrode part of the light emitting element, prevent theoccurrence of a difference in in-plane luminance of a panel, and thusobtain a picture of high picture quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ordinary organicEL display device;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a configuration of apixel circuit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a secular change in the current-voltage(I-V) characteristic of an organic EL light emitting element;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a pixel circuit in which p-channelTFTs in the circuit of FIG. 2 are replaced with n-channel TFTs;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operating point of a TFT as a drivetransistor and an EL light emitting element in an initial state;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an organic ELdisplay device using pixel circuits according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a concrete configuration of a pixelcircuit according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are a timing chart showing a basic operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a firstmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of a top emission structure;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an evaporation mask for afirst conductive layer;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an evaporation mask for asecond conductive layer;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a secondmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of another top emission structure;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a thirdmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of a bottom emission structure;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a fourthmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of another bottom emission structure;

FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 15E are a timing chart of a concreteoperation of the pixel circuit in FIG. 7;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing a state during anemission period;

FIG. 17 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing a state in which avoltage Vss is set during a non-emission period;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing a state in which anoffset signal is input;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing a state in which avoltage Vcc is set;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing a transition of sourcevoltage of a driving transistor when the voltage Vcc is set;

FIG. 21 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing a state when a datasignal Vsig is written;

FIG. 22 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing transitions of thesource voltage of the driving transistor according to high mobility andlow mobility;

FIG. 23 is a diagram of assistance in explaining the operation of thepixel circuit in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing an emission state;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an organic ELdisplay device using pixel circuits according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a concrete configuration of a pixelcircuit according to the second embodiment; and

FIGS. 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 26E, and 26F are a timing chart of a basicoperation of the pixel circuit in FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an organic ELdisplay device using pixel circuits according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a concrete configuration of a pixelcircuit according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the display device 100 includes: a pixelarray unit 102 having pixel circuits 101 arranged in the form of an m×nmatrix; a horizontal selector (HSEL) 103; a write scanner (WSCN) 104; apower drive scanner (PDSCN) 105; signal lines SGL101 to SGL10 n selectedby the horizontal selector 103 and supplied with an input signal SIN ofa data signal Vsig corresponding to luminance information or an offsetsignal Vofs; scanning lines WSL101 to WSL10 m as driving wiring selectedand driven by a gate pulse (scanning pulse) GP of the write scanner 104;and power driving lines PSL101 to PSL10 m as driving wiring driven bybeing supplied with a power signal PSG selectively set to a voltage VCC(for example a power supply voltage) or a voltage VSS (for example anegative side voltage) by the power drive scanner 105.

Incidentally, while the pixel circuits 101 are arranged in the form ofthe m×n matrix in the pixel array unit 102, for simplicity of thefigure, FIG. 6 shows an example in which pixel circuits 101 are arrangedin the form of a 2 (=m)×3 (=n) matrix.

In addition, for simplicity of the figure, FIG. 7 shows a concreteconfiguration of one pixel circuit.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pixel circuit 101 according to the presentembodiment includes: a n-channel TFT 111 as a driving transistor; an-channel TFT 112 as a switching transistor; a capacitor C111; a lightemitting element 113 formed by an organic EL light emitting element(OLED: an electrooptic element); a first node ND111; and a second nodeND112.

In the pixel circuit 101, the TFT 111 as the driving transistor, thenode ND111, and the light emitting element (OLED) 113 are connected inseries with each other between the power driving line (power supplyline) PSL (101 to 10 m) and a predetermined reference potential Vcat(for example, a ground potential).

Specifically, the cathode of the light emitting element 113 is connectedto the reference potential Vcat. The anode of the light emitting element113 is connected to the first node ND111. The source of the TFT 111 isconnected to the first node ND111. The drain of the TFT 111 is connectedto the power driving line PSL.

The gate of the TFT 111 is connected to the second node ND112.

The first electrode of the capacitor C111 is connected to the first nodeND111. The second electrode of the capacitor C111 is connected to thesecond node ND112.

The source and the drain of the TFT 112 are connected between the signalline SGL and the second node ND112, respectively. The gate of the TFT112 is connected to the scanning line WSL.

Thus, the pixel circuit 101 according to the present embodiment has thecapacitor C111 as a pixel capacitance connected between the gate and thesource of the TFT 111 as drive transistor.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are a timing chart showing a basic operation of the pixelcircuit in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8A shows the gate pulse (scanning pulse) GP applied to the scanningline WSL. FIG. 8B shows the power signal PSG applied to the powerdriving line PSL. FIG. 8C shows the input signal SIN applied to thesignal line SGL.

For light emission of the light emitting element 113 in the pixelcircuit 101, during a non-emission period, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, apower signal VSS (for example, a negative voltage) is applied to thepower driving line PSL, and an offset signal Vofs is propagated throughthe signal line SGL and then input to the second node ND112 via the TFT112. Thereafter, a power signal VCC (corresponding to a power supplyvoltage) is applied to the power driving line PSL. Thus, the thresholdvalue of the TFT 111 is corrected.

Thereafter, a data signal Vsig corresponding to luminance information isapplied to the signal line SGL, whereby the signal is written to thesecond node ND112 via the TFT 112. At this time, the writing isperformed while a current is passed through the TFT 111, so thatmobility correction is performed in a simultaneous and parallel manner.

Then, the TFT 112 is set in a non-conducting state, and the lightemitting element 113 is made to emit light according to the luminanceinformation.

The active matrix type organic EL display device 100 having theconstitution as described above has a laminated structure of a TFTcircuit for driving the EL light emitting element and the EL lightemitting element as a light emitting layer, and is fabricated as adisplay device of a top emission structure or a bottom emissionstructure.

In the display device 100 according to the present embodiment, thefollowing measures are taken to remedy the occurrence of a difference inin-plane luminance of a panel due to a voltage drop in an electrode partof the light emitting element, that is, to improve picture quality andthe like by reducing the resistance of a first electrode (for example ananode electrode) or a second electrode (for example a cathode electrode)formed so as to sandwich a light emitting element material layer of thelight emitting element 113 in the top emission structure or the bottomemission structure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a firstmeasure to improve the picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of a top emission structure.

As shown in FIG. 9, a display device 100A having the top emissionstructure includes: a substrate 121 formed by a glass, for example; aplurality of TFTs 122 (the TFT 111 in FIG. 7) formed on the substrate121 for each of pixel circuits 101; an anode electrode layer 123 as afirst electrode formed over an area from an emission area EA of each ofthe pixel circuits 101 to a non-emission area NEA on the periphery ofthe emission area EA, the anode electrode layer 123 being connected tothe TFT 122 (the source of the TFT 111) in the non-emission area NEA; acathode electrode layer 124 as a second electrode formed over an entirearea so as to be common to pixels; and a light emitting material layer(EL layer) 125 formed over the entire area between the anode electrodelayer 123 and the cathode electrode layer 124.

The cathode electrode layer 124 as the second electrode has a laminatedstructure of a first conductive layer 1241 and a second conductive layer1242 in the non-emission area NEA of each of the pixel circuits 101.Only the first conductive layer 1241 is formed over the entire areaincluding the emission areas EA and the non-emission areas NEA in such amanner as to be common to the pixels.

References 126 and 127 in FIG. 9 denote an insulating film.

In addition, the first conductive layer 1241 is formed by a layer havinga higher transmittance in a visible light region than the secondconductive layer 1242.

For example, the first conductive layer 1241 is formed by a transparentelectrode of ITO or the like. The second conductive layer 1242 isdesirably formed by a low-resistance material. For example, thelow-resistance material is desirably a metal such as Al, Ag, Cu or thelike or an alloy including one or more of the metals.

The anode electrode layer 123 is formed by a material such as Al or thelike.

In the case of the structure of FIG. 9, the cathode electrode layer 124as the second electrode is constructed by forming the first conductivelayer 1241 on the EL layer 125 after the EL layer 125 is formed, andthen selectively forming the second conductive layer 1242 in thenon-emission areas NEA.

In this case, evaporation films 130A and 130B as shown in FIG. 10 andFIG. 11 are used.

The second conductive layer 1242 in the cathode electrode layer 124 asthe second electrode has a lower sheet resistance than the firstconductive layer 1241.

Of the first conductive layer 1241 and the second conductive layer 1242laminated in the non-emission areas NEA, the second conductive layer1242 is formed with a larger film thickness than the first conductivelayer 1241. At least the second conductive layer 1242 has a lightguiding function for guiding light emitted from a light emitting part113A of an EL light emitting element 113 in a direction orthogonal tothe direction of lamination of the layers (the direction of a normal tothe principal plane of the substrate 121).

For example, the first conductive layer 1241 is formed with a filmthickness on the order of nanometers, and the second conductive layer1242 is formed with a film thickness on the order of micrometers.

In the present embodiment, because the second conductive layer 1242 isformed by a material having a high reflectance, such as Al or the like,a part of the light emitted from the light emitting part 113A is guidedupward in FIG. 9 while reflected on the side parts of the secondconductive layer 1242.

This light guiding function enables the emitted light to be extractedefficiently.

Thus, the display device 100A having the top emission structure of FIG.9 achieves a low resistance of the cathode electrode layer 124. It istherefore possible to suppress a voltage drop in the electrode part ofthe light emitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference inin-plane luminance of a panel, and thus obtain a picture of high picturequality.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a secondmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of a top emission structure.

A display device 100B in FIG. 12 is different from the display device100A in FIG. 9 in that the first conductive layer 1241 and the secondconductive layer 1242 of a cathode electrode layer 124B are laminated ina different order.

Specifically, in the display device 100B of FIG. 12, the secondconductive layer 1242 is selectively formed in the non-emission area NEAof each of pixel circuits 101, and the first conductive layer 1241 isthereafter formed over an entire area in such a manner as to be commonto pixels. The first conductive layer 1241 is an upper layer over thesecond conductive layer 1242.

Also, in this constitution, because the second conductive layer 1242 isformed by a material having a high reflectance, such as Al or the like,even when there is light passing through the semitransparent firstconductive layer 1241, for example, the part of the light emitted from alight emitting part 113A is guided upward in FIG. 12 while reflected onthe side parts of the second conductive layer 1242.

This light guiding function enables the emitted light to be extractedefficiently.

Thus, the display device 100B having the top emission structure of FIG.12 achieves a low resistance of the cathode electrode layer 124B. It istherefore possible to suppress a voltage drop in the electrode part of alight emitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference inin-plane luminance of a panel, and thus obtain a picture of high picturequality.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a thirdmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of the principal parts of a bottom emission structure.

As shown in FIG. 13, a display device 100C having the bottom emissionstructure includes: a transparent substrate 131 formed by a glass, forexample; a plurality of TFTs 132 (the TFT 111 in FIG. 7) formed on thesubstrate 131 for each of pixel circuits 101; an anode electrode layer133 as a first electrode formed over an area from an emission area EA ofeach of the pixel circuits 101 to a non-emission area NEA on theperiphery of the emission area EA, the anode electrode layer 133 beingconnected to the TFT 132 (the source of the TFT 111) in the non-emissionarea NEA; a cathode electrode layer 134 as a second electrode formedover an entire area so as to be common to pixels; and a light emittingmaterial layer (EL layer) 135 formed over the entire area between theanode electrode layer 133 and the cathode electrode layer 134.

The anode electrode layer 133 as the first electrode has a laminatedstructure of a first conductive layer 1331 and a second conductive layer1332 in the non-emission area NEA of each of the pixel circuits 101.Only the first conductive layer 1331 is formed in both the emission areaEA and the non-emission area NEA of each pixel.

References 136 and 137 in FIG. 13 denote an insulating film.

In addition, the first conductive layer 1331 is formed by a layer havinga higher transmittance in a visible light region than the secondconductive layer 1332.

For example, the first conductive layer 1331 is formed by a transparentelectrode of ITO or the like. The second conductive layer 1332 isdesirably formed by a low-resistance material. For example, thelow-resistance material is desirably a metal such as Al, Ag, Cu or thelike or an alloy including one or more of the metals.

The cathode electrode layer 134 is formed by a material such as Al orthe like.

In the case of the structure of FIG. 13, the anode electrode layer 133as the first electrode is constructed by forming the first conductivelayer 1331 connected to the TFTs 132 and then selectively forming thesecond conductive layer 1332 in the non-emission areas NEA.

The second conductive layer 1332 in the anode electrode layer 133 as thefirst electrode has a lower sheet resistance than the first conductivelayer 1331.

Thus, the display device 100C having the bottom emission structure ofFIG. 13 achieves a low resistance of the anode electrode layer 133. Itis therefore possible to suppress a voltage drop in the electrode partof the light emitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference inin-plane luminance of a panel, and thus obtain a picture of high picturequality.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of assistance in explaining an example of a fourthmeasure to improve picture quality and the like, and is a schematicsectional view of principal parts of a bottom emission structure.

A display device 100D in FIG. 14 is different from the display device100C in FIG. 13 in that the first conductive layer 1331 and the secondconductive layer 1332 of an anode electrode layer 133D are laminated ina different order.

Specifically, in the display device 100D of FIG. 14, the secondconductive layer 1332 is selectively formed in the non-emission area NEAof each of pixel circuits 101, and the first conductive layer 1331 isthereafter formed over an area from the non-emission area NEA to anemission area EA. The first conductive layer 1331 is an upper layer overthe second conductive layer 1332.

Thus, the display device 100D having the bottom emission structure ofFIG. 14 achieves a low resistance of the anode electrode layer 133D. Itis therefore possible to suppress a voltage drop in the electrode partof a light emitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference inin-plane luminance of a panel, and thus obtain a picture of high picturequality.

A more concrete operation of the above-described constitution will bedescribed next by centering on the operation of the pixel circuit withreference to FIGS. 15A to 15E and FIGS. 16 to 23.

FIG. 15A shows a gate pulse (scanning pulse) GP applied to the scanningline WSL. FIG. 15B shows a power signal PSG applied to the power drivingline PSL. FIG. 15C shows an input signal SIN applied to the signal lineSGL. FIG. 15D shows the potential VND112 of the second node ND112. FIG.15E shows the potential VND111 of the first node ND111.

First, during a light emitting state of the light emitting element 113,as shown in FIG. 15B and FIG. 16, the power driving line PSL is at apower supply voltage VCC, and the TFT 112 is in an off state.

At this time, because the TFT 111 as a driving transistor is set tooperate in a saturation region, a current Ids flowing through the ELlight emitting element 113 assumes a value expressed by Equation 1according to the gate-to-source voltage Vgs of the TFT 111.

Next, in a non-emission period, as shown in FIG. 15B and FIG. 17, thepower driving line PSL as a power supply line is set at a voltage Vss.At this time, when the voltage Vss is lower than the sum of thethreshold value Vthel of the EL light emitting element 113 and a cathodevoltage Vcat, that is, Vss<Vthel+Vcat, the EL light emitting element 113is quenched, and the power driving line PSL as a power supply linebecomes the source of the TFT 111 as a driving transistor. At this time,as shown in FIG. 15E, the anode (node ND111) of the EL light emittingelement 113 is charged to the voltage Vss.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 15A, 15C, 15D, and 15E and FIG. 18, when thepotential of the signal line SGL becomes an offset voltage Vofs, thegate pulse GP is set at a high level to turn on the TFT 112, whereby thegate potential of the TFT 111 is set at the offset voltage Vofs.

At this time, the gate-to-source voltage of the TFT 111 assumes a value(Vofs−Vss). A threshold value correcting operation cannot be performedwhen the gate-to-source voltage (Vofs−Vss) of the TFT 111 is not higherthan (is lower than) the threshold voltage Vth of the TFT 111. It istherefore necessary that the gate-to-source voltage (Vofs−Vss) of theTFT 111 be higher than the threshold voltage Vth of the TFT 111, thatis, Vofs−Vss>Vth.

Then, the power signal PSG applied to the power driving line PSL in thethreshold value correcting operation is set at the power supply voltageVcc again.

By setting the power driving line PSL at the power supply voltage Vcc,the anode (node ND111) of the EL light emitting element 113 functions asthe source of the TFT 111, and a current flows as shown in FIG. 19.

An equivalent circuit of the EL light emitting element 113 isrepresented by a diode and a capacitance as shown in FIG. 19. Thus, aslong as a relation Vel≦Vcat+Vthel (a leakage current of the EL lightemitting element 113 is considerably smaller than the current flowingthrough the TFT 111) is satisfied, the current of the TFT 111 is used tocharge the capacitors C111 and Cel.

At this time, the voltage Vel across the capacitance Cel rises withtime, as shown in FIG. 20. After the passage of a certain time, thegate-to-source voltage of the TFT 111 assumes the value Vth. At thistime, Vel=Vofs−Vth≦Vcat+Vthel.

After the threshold value canceling operation is ended, as shown inFIGS. 15A and 15C and FIG. 21, the signal line SGL is set at a potentialVsig with the TFT 112 in an on state. The data signal Vsig is a voltagecorresponding to a gradation. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15D, thegate potential of the TFT 111 is the potential Vsig because the TFT 112is on. The source potential rises with time because the current Idsflows from the power driving line PSL as a power supply line.

At this time, when the source voltage of the TFT 111 does not exceed thesum of the threshold voltage Vthel of the EL light emitting element 113and the cathode voltage Vcat (when the leakage current of the EL lightemitting element 113 is considerably smaller than the current flowingthrough the TFT 111), the current flowing through the TFT 111 is used tocharge the capacitors C111 and Cel.

At this time, because the operation of correcting the threshold value ofthe TFT 111 has been completed, the current passed by the TFT 111reflects a mobility μ.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, when the mobility μ is high, anamount of current at this time is large, and the source voltage risesquickly. Conversely, when the mobility μ is low, the amount of currentis small, and the source voltage rises slowly. Thus, the gate-to-sourcevoltage of the TFT 111 is decreased, reflecting the mobility μ, andbecomes the gate-to-source voltage Vgs that completely corrects themobility after the passage of a certain time.

Finally, as shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C and FIG. 23, the gate pulse GP ischanged to a low level to turn off the TFT 112 and thereby end writing,and the EL light emitting element 113 is made to emit light.

Because the gate-to-source voltage of the TFT 111 is constant, the TFT111 sends a constant current Ids′ to the EL light emitting element 113,the voltage Vel rises to a voltage Vx at which the current Ids′ flowsthrough the EL light emitting element 113, and the EL light emittingelement 113 emits light.

Also, in the pixel circuit 101, the I-V characteristic of the lightemitting element 113 is changed as a light emission time is lengthened.Therefore, the potential of a point B (node ND111) in FIG. 23 also ischanged. However, the gate-to-source voltage of the TFT 111 ismaintained at a constant value, and thus the current flowing through theEL light emitting element 113 does not change. Thus, even when the I-Vcharacteristic of the light emitting element 113 is degraded, theconstant current Ids continues flowing at all times, and therefore theluminance of the light emitting element 113 does not change.

In the thus driven pixel circuit, the resistance of the cathodeelectrode layer or the anode electrode layer is lowered. It is thereforepossible to suppress a voltage drop in the electrode part of the lightemitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference in in-planeluminance of the panel, and thus obtain a picture of high picturequality.

In the present first embodiment, a description has been made above ofthe examples of the first to fourth measures as effective measures toimprove picture quality for the display device 100 having the circuit inFIG. 7, that is, a 2Tr+1C pixel circuit including two transistors andone capacitor.

However, while the examples of the first to fourth measures areeffective for the display device 100 having the 2Tr+1C pixel circuit,the measures also can be applied to display devices having a pixelcircuit of a configuration provided with a TFT or the like for mobilityand threshold value cancellation separately in addition to a drive(driving) transistor connected in series with an OLED and a switchingtransistor.

An example of a constitution of a display device having a 5Tr+1C pixelcircuit including five transistors and one capacitor among these displaydevices will be described below as a second embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an organic ELdisplay device using a pixel circuit according to the second embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a concrete configuration of thepixel circuit according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, this display device 200 includes: apixel array unit 202 having pixel circuits 201 arranged in the form ofan m×n matrix; a horizontal selector (HSEL) 203; a write scanner (WSCN)204; a drive scanner (DSCN) 205; a first auto-zero circuit (AZRD1) 206;a second auto-zero circuit (AZRD2) 207; a signal line SGL selected bythe horizontal selector 203 and supplied with a data signalcorresponding to luminance information; a scanning line WSL as seconddriving wiring selected and driven by the write scanner 204; a drivingline DSL as first driving wiring selected and driven by the drivescanner 205; a first auto-zero line AZL1 as fourth driving wiringselected and driven by the first auto-zero circuit 206; and a secondauto-zero line AZL2 as third driving wiring selected and driven by thesecond auto-zero circuit 207.

As shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, a pixel circuit 201 according to thepresent embodiment includes: a p-channel TFT 211; n-channel TFTs 212 to215; a capacitor C211; a light emitting element 216 formed by an organicEL light emitting element (OLED: an electrooptic element); a first nodeND211; and a second node ND212.

The TFT 211 forms a first switch transistor. The TFT 213 forms a secondswitch transistor. The TFT 215 forms a third switch transistor. The TFT214 forms a fourth switch transistor.

Incidentally, a line for supplying a power supply voltage Vcc (powersupply potential) corresponds to a first reference potential. A groundpotential GND corresponds to a second reference potential. VSS1corresponds to a fourth reference potential. VSS2 corresponds to a thirdreference potential.

In the pixel circuit 201, the TFT 211, the TFT 212 as drive transistor,the first node ND211, and the light emitting element (OLED) 216 areconnected in series with each other between the first referencepotential (the power supply potential Vcc in the present embodiment) andthe second reference potential (the ground potential GND in the presentembodiment). Specifically, the cathode of the light emitting element 216is connected to the ground potential GND. The anode of the lightemitting element 216 is connected to the first node ND211. The source ofthe TFT 212 is connected to the first node ND211. The drain of the TFT212 is connected to the drain of the TFT 211. The source of the TFT 211is connected to the power supply potential Vcc.

The gate of the TFT 212 is connected to the second node ND212. The gateof the TFT 211 is connected to the driving line DSL.

The drain of the TFT 213 is connected to the first node ND211 and thefirst electrode of the capacitor C211. The source of the TFT 213 isconnected to the fixed potential VSS2. The gate of the TFT 213 isconnected to the second auto-zero line AZL2. The second electrode of thecapacitor C211 is connected to the second node ND212.

The source and the drain of the TFT 214 are connected between the signalline SGL and the second node ND212, respectively. The gate of the TFT214 is connected to the scanning line WSL.

The source and the drain of the TFT 215 are connected between the secondnode ND212 and the predetermined potential Vss1, respectively. The gateof the TFT 215 is connected to the first auto-zero line AZL1.

Thus, the pixel circuit 201 according to the present embodiment isconfigured such that the capacitor C211 as pixel capacitance isconnected between the gate and the source of the TFT 212 as a drivetransistor, the source potential of the TFT 212 is connected to thefixed potential via the TFT 213 as a switch transistor during anon-emission period, and a connection is established between the gateand the drain of the TFT 212 to correct a threshold value Vth.

The first to fourth measures to improve picture quality, which measureshave been described as the first embodiment, are taken in the presentsecond embodiment.

By taking a desired measure, it is possible to suppress a voltage dropin the electrode part of the light emitting element, prevent theoccurrence of a difference in in-plane luminance of a panel, and thusobtain a picture of high picture quality.

The operation of the above-described constitution will be described nextby centering on the operation of the pixel circuit with reference toFIGS. 26A to 26F.

Incidentally, FIG. 26A shows a driving signal DS applied to the drivingline DSL. FIG. 26B shows a driving signal WS (corresponding to the gatepulse GP in the first embodiment) applied to the scanning line WSL. FIG.26C shows a driving signal AZ1 applied to the first auto-zero line AZL1.FIG. 26D shows an auto-zero signal AZ2 as a driving signal applied tothe second auto-zero line AZL2. FIG. 26E shows the potential of thesecond node ND212. FIG. 26F shows the potential of the first node ND211.

The driving signal DS supplied to the driving line DSL by the drivescanner 205 is maintained at a high level. The driving signal WSsupplied to the scanning line WSL by the write scanner 204 is maintainedat a low level. The driving signal AZ1 supplied to the auto-zero lineAZL1 by the auto-zero circuit 206 is maintained at a low level. Thedriving signal AZ2 supplied to the auto-zero line AZL2 by the auto-zerocircuit 207 is maintained at a high level.

As a result, the TFT 213 is on. At this time, a current flows throughthe TFT 213, and the source potential Vs of the TFT 212 (the potentialof the first node ND211) drops to the potential VSS2. Therefore, thevoltage applied to the light emitting element 216 is 0 V, and thus thelight emitting element 216 does not emit light.

In this case, even when the TFT 214 is turned on, the voltage retainedby the capacitor C211, that is, the gate voltage of the TFT 212, is notchanged.

Next, during the period of non-emission of the EL light emitting element216, as shown in FIGS. 26C and 26D, the driving signal AZ1 supplied tothe auto-zero line AZL1 is set to a high level in a state of the drivingsignal AZ2 supplied to the auto-zero line AZL2 being maintained at thehigh level. Thereby, the potential of the second node ND212 becomes thepotential VSS1.

After the driving signal AZ2 supplied to the auto-zero line AZL2 ischanged to a low level, the driving signal DS supplied to the drivingline DSL by the drive scanner 205 is changed to a low level for only apredetermined period.

Thereby, the TFT 213 is turned off, and the TFT 215 and the TFT 212 areturned on. Thus, a current flows through the path of the TFT 212 and theTFT 211, and the potential of the first node rises.

Then, the driving signal DS supplied to the driving line DSL by thedrive scanner 205 is changed to the high level, and the driving signalAZ1 is changed to the low level.

As a result of the above, the threshold value Vth of the drivetransistor TFT 212 is corrected, and a potential difference between thesecond node ND212 and the first node ND211 becomes the threshold valueVth.

After the passage of a predetermined period in that state, the drivingsignal WS supplied to the scanning line WSL by the write scanner 204 ismaintained at a high level for a predetermined period so that data iswritten from the data line to the node ND212. The driving signal DSsupplied to the driving line DSL by the drive scanner 205 is changed tothe high level while the driving signal WS is at the high level. Thedriving signal WS is shortly changed to the low level.

At this time, the TFT 212 is turned on, and the TFT 214 is turned off,so that a mobility correction is performed.

In this case, because the TFT 214 is off and the gate-to-source voltageVgs of the TFT 212 is constant, the TFT 212 passes a constant currentIds through the EL light emitting element 216. Thereby, the potential ofthe first node ND211 rises to a voltage Vx at which the current Idsflows through the EL light emitting element 216, and the EL lightemitting element 216 emits light.

Also, in the present circuit, the current-voltage (I-V) characteristicof the EL light emitting element is changed as the light emission timeof the EL light emitting element is lengthened. Therefore, the potentialof the first node ND211 also is changed. However, because thegate-to-source voltage Vgs of the TFT 212 is maintained at a constantvalue, the current flowing through the EL light emitting element 216does not change. Thus, even when the I-V characteristic of the EL lightemitting element 216 is degraded, the constant current Ids continuesflowing at all times, so that the luminance of the EL light emittingelement 216 does not change.

In the thus driven pixel circuit, the resistance of the cathodeelectrode layer or the anode electrode layer is lowered. It is thereforepossible to suppress a voltage drop in the electrode part of the lightemitting element, prevent the occurrence of a difference in in-planeluminance of a panel, and thus obtain a picture of high picture quality.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, subcombinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A display device in which pixels, each including an emission area,are arranged in a form of a matrix, said display device comprising: afirst electrode formed from the emission area of said pixels to anon-emission area on a periphery of said emission area; a secondelectrode including a first conductive layer in said emission area andsaid non-emission area; and a second conductive layer in saidnon-emission area, wherein said first conductive layer is disposed onsaid second conductive layer in said non-emission area; a light emittingmaterial layer formed between said first electrode and said secondelectrode in both said emission area and said non-emission area, whereinsaid first conductive layer is disposed on said light emitting materiallayer in said emission area and wherein said second conductive layer isdisposed on said light emitting material layer in said non-emissionarea; a driving transistor, and a switching transistor, wherein a filmthickness in said non-emission area of at least one of said firstelectrode and said second electrode is larger than film thickness insaid emission area and said first electrode is connected to said drivingtransistor in said non-emission area.
 2. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein a light emitting part is disposed on a side of asurface in which said second electrode is formed, and said firstconductive layer has a higher transmittance in a visible light regionthan said second conductive layer.
 3. The display device according toclaim 2, wherein said second conductive layer has a lower sheetresistance than said first conductive layer.
 4. The display deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein of said first conductive layer and saidsecond conductive layer in said non-emission area, said secondconductive layer is formed with a larger film thickness than said firstconductive layer, and at least said second conductive layer isconfigured to form sidewalls of said emission area to guide lightemitted from the light emitting part in a direction orthogonal to adirection of lamination of the layers.
 5. The display device accordingto claim 1, wherein the display device is of a top emission type.
 6. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein said light emittingmaterial layer forms a light emitting element of a pixel circuit foreach of said pixels, and said driving transistor and said light emittingelement are connected in series with each other between a power supplyline and a reference potential.
 7. The display device according to claim6, wherein said second electrode is connected to said referencepotential.
 8. The display device according to claim 4, wherein saidsecond conductive layer is disposed on said first conductive layer.